Theater and like chair.



1. WALLACE. THEATER AND LIKE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1914. v I I 1,145,340. Patented July 6,1915.

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THEATER AND LIKE CHAIR. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1914. I PatentedJuly 6, 1915. I

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THEATER AND LIKE o AIn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented fuly Application filed May 20, 1914. Serial n ssarsi.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES VVALLAOE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Theater and like Chairs, ofwhich the following-is a specification.

This invention relates to folding chairs, and more particularly to thatclass of chairs which is used in theaters and other public assemblyrooms.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a simple,substantial, cheaply manufactured chair of the character described,which is especially adapted for installation and use in places where theseats are liable to vbe crowded and where the audience is ever andcontinuously changing; 2'. e., a seat which can be quickly and easilyraised by the occupant to make aisle space when a person desires topass.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seat which is soconstructed that any number of same may be arranged inthe form of asemicircle, or the like, without cramping the pivotal connections of theseat or interfering with the free working of 7 showing the seat inlowered position. Fig.

2 is a similar view showing the seat in the raised posltlon. Fig. 3 1s aplan view, partly in section, showing a number of seats connected 111the form of a semicircle. Fig. 4'

is a detail perspective view of plate 4. Fig. 5 is a cross section ofthe seat frame showing the plate 4 in plan view.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the standards or side frames ofthe seat, between which the back sections are secured, as at 2. The sideframes are substantially T-shape in cross sectionfand the front edge ofeach frame is provided with laterally extending lugs 3, one, pair oflugs being formed on each side of the frame. Pivotally mounted in eachpair of lugs is a plate 4: and mounted at one side of each plate is apivot member 5, a stop 6, and a set-screw 7.

The seat proper, indicated at 8, is secured I to a pair of bracketplates 9 in turn are carried by the plates land pivots; 5

Each bracket plate is extended toiz-forma pair of stops 10 and 11, oneto limit the'upward movement of the seat and the otherto support theseat in the loweredv position.

Pro ectingfrom one side ofea'ch" bracket plate is a pivot pin 10, andconnecting. said pin with the arm of the chair, indicated at l3, is alink 14: which projects through and is guided in a slot 14: formed inthe frame A. Thearms are in this'instancepivotally connected, as at 15,to the back ofitheseat frame. The link connection between the arms andthe seat provides a means" by which the seat may be raisedor lowered Ithrough means of the arms 13. The pivotal mounting of the arms, togetherwith link connections between same and the seat, is of great importanceas it greatlywincreases the utility of the chair, especially in theatersand like places where the seats are liable;

to be crowded and where 'the audience is ever and continuously'changing.The occupant of 'a' chair has a natural tendency to place the'hands onthe eX- tremities of the arms of the chair and they are thus in anaturalpositionv to grasp and raise same, when standing up to make aislespace for passing persons. The occupant is thus entirely. relieved ofstooping down and grasping the front: edge of the seat.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provisionofthe pivotally mounted plates 4: in which the seat proper is supported.These permit the seats to be' arranged in a semi circle, or the like,without crowding the pivotal connections or interfering with the freeworking of the seats. When arranging the seats in a semicircle, as

indicated in Fig.3, itis only necessary to adjust the set-screws 7 insuch a manner that they will-hold the plates 4: at a slight angle, asindicated at 16, with relation. to the seat frame. A number of chairsmaythus be arranged in practically any shape without interfering with the.free workingv of the seat.

The bracket plates9 are proper and the bracket plate. This, togetherwith the pivotal mounting. of the slotted, as'at 17 to permit adjustmentbetween the seat" plates 4:, permits the seats to be removed at i i anytime without interfering with the main frames A or the back portions ofthe seats.

Secured to the front frame, by a screw 18, or similar means, on eachside of the frame between the lugs 3, is a pair of angle plates 19.These are provided for the purpose'of preventing the seat, withconnected plates 4:, from being lifted out of engagement with the lugs3.

The materials and finish of the several parts of the chair are such asthe experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Various changes in form, proportions and minor details of constructionmay be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims and I do notwish to limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby' Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a chair frame having aback, and a seat pivoted to the frame, arms pivoted to the frame, andlinks pivoted to the arms and pivoted to the seat at points at adistance below the pivotal points of the seat but closely adjacent theseat pivotal points whereby the seat may be raised up by but slight upmovement of the arms and which movement of the arms causes-same toextend at but slightly less than a right angle to the back.

2. In combination, a chair frame, a plate pivotally connected theretofor movement about a vertical axis, a seat, a bracket secured to theseat and formed with an opening, a fixed pin projecting laterally fromthe pivotal plate and freely engaging in the opening of the bracketwhereby relative separable movement between the latter and plate willdislodge the bracket from the pin, and adjustable means for holding theplate positively in an adjusted position against movement tending toseparate the latter from the bracket.

3. In combination, a chair including spaced frames, a plate pivoted toeach frame for movement about a vertical axis and ar ranged to opposethe plate of the other frame, a pin projecting from each plate towardthe other plate, a seat including means freely receiving the opposingpins whereby on separable movement between the pins the seat will bedislodged, and screw means carried by the plates and adapted to engagewith the frames for holding the plates against swinging movement fromthe seat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES WALLACE. Witnesses:

JOHN H. HERRING, W. W. HEALEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G.

